face is
more intelligent." But this hardly appeased Nan, who was heard to say
under her breath "that she thought Dick had the nicest face in the
world."

"And Sir Harry has a nice face too: has he not, Mrs. Challoner?"
exclaimed Mattie, who never could be silent in a discussion. "It takes
time to get used to such very red hair; and, of course, he is
dreadfully big,--almost too big, I should say. But when he talks he
has such a good-natured way with him; now, hasn't he?" appealing to
Nan, who looked just a little glum,--that is, glum for Nan, for she
could not do the sulks properly; she could only look dignified.

Mrs. Challoner grew a little alarmed at her daughter's demure face:
"Nan, darling, you know I am as fond of Dick as possible; but I cannot
help being pleased with my new nephew, can I? And I must say I think
Harry is very nice, in spite of his roughness." But here Phillis, who
had been unaccountably silent, suddenly struck in:

"Mother, it was a mistake mentioning Dick: the name is sacred. Nan, if
it will please you we will declare that he is beautiful as a young
Apollo."

"Don't be a goose, Phil!" from her sister. But Nan was smiling.

"As for Harry, he is a perfect hero. I expect great things from the
great man. To my imagination he is a perfect Hercules,--Heracles, son
of Zeus and Alcmene. I wonder if Harry could tell us the name of
Hercules's mother?"

"Of course not, and no one else either," retorted Dulce.

But Phillis did not heed this.

"To me he shall be the young Alcides. He has promised to fight the
Nemaean lion, in the shape of Richard Mayne the elder. By and by we
shall have him striking off the heads of the Lernean Hydra. You look
mystified, Nan. And I perceive Mattie has a perplexed countenance. I
am afraid you are deficient in heathen mythology; but I will spare
your ignorance. You will see, though, I am right----"

"But, Phillis----" broke in Dulce, eagerly. But Phillis waved her hand
majestically at the interruption:

"Mother, to be serious, I consider Harry in the light of a
providential interposition. You are always mourning that there is not
a man belonging to us. Well, now we have got one, large as life, and
larger, and a very good fellow, as you say; and we are no longer
'forlorn females.'"

"And indeed, Phillis, I am most thankful for that, my dear; for if
Harry be only as good as a brother to you----"

"He means to be more," returned Phillis, with a sage nod of her head